Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (2024)

Published: Updated: by Nena Sterner | This post may contain affiliate links 12 Comments

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You've heard of tortilla chips, potato chips, maybe even pineapple chips, but have you ever heard of chicken chips? This high protein crunchy Keto snack has become one of my go-to recipes when I'm on a diet and need a salty treat.

Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (1)

Whether you're looking for a Keto chicken thigh recipe or just trying to cut carbs, you'll love these crunchy and nutritious chips!

A friend of mine was recently on the Keto diet and asked me if I had ideas for any good Keto chicken thigh recipes or Keto crunchy snacks. I suddenly remembered seeing this intriguing recipe for salmon chips a while back.

I thought it would be fun to try to make chips out of chicken. The result did not disappoint, and the process was so easy and quick!

Jump to:
  • 🧐 Why This Recipe Works
  • 🛒 What You Need To Make Chicken Chips
  • 🔖 Recipe Ingredients And Substitutions
  • 🍗 How To Make Chicken Chips
  • 💨 How To Make Chicken Chips In An Air Fryer
  • 🥚Other Keto Recipes
  • 🤷🏻‍♀️ Recipe FAQs
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 Pro Tips
  • 🍖Related Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

🧐 Why This Recipe Works

  • These delicious & nutritious Keto crunchy snacks have 22 grams of protein per serving and 0 carbs!
  • The process is quick and simple, with just a few easy steps.
  • The only ingredients you need are chicken and spices. It's a great snack to make when you hardly have any groceries in the fridge.

🛒 What You Need To Make Chicken Chips

Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (2)

🔖 Recipe Ingredients And Substitutions

  • Chicken Thighs: Chicken breast works just as well. You can buy pre-ground chicken and save yourself a step! If you do use chicken breast, you may want to spray the parchment paper with cooking spray so that the chicken doesn't stick to the paper.
  • Chipotle Powder: While I wouldn't say these chicken chips are spicy, the chipotle powder does provide a little bit of heat. You can leave this out if you prefer.
  • Nutritional Yeast: Totally optional. I like adding nutritional yeast because it provides a bit of a cheesy flavor and a little extra protein.

🍗 How To Make Chicken Chips

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

STEP 1: If using whole chicken thighs, cut thighs into manageable portions and feed through a meat grinder and into a medium bowl.

Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (3)
Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (4)

Step 2: Mix spices in a small bowl then add to the ground chicken. Mix throughly using a rubber spatula. Run the chicken mixture through the meat grinder one more time so that the texture of the chicken is paste-like.

Pro tip: If you don’t have a meat grinder, you can either chop the meat with a sharp knife or use a food processor.

Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (5)
Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (6)
Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (7)
Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (8)

Step 3: Tear a piece of parchment paper equal to the size of a large cookie sheet. Add half of the chicken paste in the middle of the sheet. Cover with a piece of Saran Wrap that’s the same size as the parchment paper. Use a rolling pin to flatten the chicken until it’s paper-thin.

Pro tip: You want the chicken rolled thin enough that it becomes translucent when held up to the light.

Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (9)
Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (10)
Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (11)
Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (12)

Step 4: Remove cling film and carefully transfer the parchment paper to a cookie sheet.Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until it looks crispy but not burned. I cooked mine for 35 minutes, but because ovens vary you may want to give or take 5-10 minutes. I would check on them at the 30 minute mark and go from there.

Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (13)
Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (14)

Step 5: Remove your giant chicken chip from the oven and allow it to cool for 5 minutes. If it doesn't feel crispy enough, toss it back in the oven for 5-10 more minutes.

Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (15)

Step 6: Once the chip is nice and crisp, break it into smaller chips. At this point you can either make another batch or freeze the remaining half of the chicken. I recommend serving it with guacamole, hummus, or your favorite dip!

Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (16)

💨 How To Make Chicken Chips In An Air Fryer

Step 1: Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom of your air fryer. Add a few tablespoons of chicken mixture to the center of the parchment paper and cover with Saran Wrap.

Step 2: Use a rolling pin to roll the chicken mixture as thinly as possible. Remove excess chicken if it goes over the edge of the parchment paper.

Step 3: Place into the air fryer and air fry at 375 for 12-15 minutes or until the chicken is crispy.

🥚Other Keto Recipes

If you're looking for other tasty Keto recipes, be sure to check out this delicious Keto Chicken Florentine Bake from Jen at Keto Cooking Wins. You can also give these tried and true recipes a go!

  • Keto crackers
  • Healthy Keto Deviled Eggs
  • Easy Keto Stuffed Mushrooms

🤷🏻‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

Are chicken chips a thing?

Chicken chips are in fact a thing! Still, most people are surprised when they learn that you can make delicious protein chips out of chicken. While they're not as common as potato or tortilla chips, they do have a similar texture and satisfying crunch. If you're looking for a crunchy Keto snack chicken chips are the perfect way to satisfy your cravings!

What are chicken chips made of?

Chicken chips are made of chicken that has been ground and flattened into a thin layer, along with various spices including sea salt, black or white pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and chipotle powder. They are completely free of any grains, gluten, or artificial ingredients, and are a great low carb snack for anyone trying to cut back on carbs.

What do chicken chips taste like?

I would compare the taste of chicken chips to a cross between the skin on a rotisserie chicken and the spicy nacho flavored Doritos. These chips are flavorful on their own, but if you really want to take your taste buds for a ride I would suggest eating them with a buffalo ranch dip, sour cream and onion dip, or even nacho cheese.

👩🏻‍🍳 Pro Tips

  • While this is technically a Keto chicken thigh recipe, chicken breast is also perfectly fine to use, and you can usually find it pre-ground so you can skip a step!
  • When rolling the chicken you want it thin enough that it becomes translucent when held up to the light.
  • If you want to make the chips a little easier to break up after they're done baking you can score them with your rubber spatula before removing the cling film and putting the tray in the oven.
  • When the chicken chips are done baking they will have shrunk significantly, and the edges will have begun to curl. The chips should be a warm, dark reddish-brown when they're done baking and should feel crisp to the touch after cooling.
  • I would suggest eating the chips the same day as they will get soggy if stored in the fridge and could become rancid if left out for too long.
Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (17)
  • Keto Jalapeno Poppers with Bacon
  • Spicy Smoked Pork Jerky
  • Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs
  • Chicken Potato Bake

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📖 Recipe

Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (22)

Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe

Crunchy chips made with chicken, perfect for Keto or a low-carb diet.

4.95 from 53 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 132kcal

Author: Nena Sterner

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. chicken thighs (ground)
  • ¾ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon chipotle pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F

  • If using whole chicken thighs, cut thighs into manageable portions and feed through a meat grinder and into a medium bowl.

  • Mix spices in a small bowl then add to the ground chicken. Mix throughly using a rubber spatula. Run the chicken mixture through the meat grinder one more time so that the texture of the chicken is paste-like.

  • Tear a piece of parchment paper equal to the size of a large cookie sheet. Add half of the chicken paste in the middle of the sheet. Cover with a piece of cling film that’s the same size as the parchment paper. Use a rolling pin to flatten the chicken until it’s paper-thin.

  • Remove cling film and carefully transfer the parchment paper to a cookie sheet.Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until it looks crispy but not burned. I cooked mine for 35 minutes, but because ovens vary you may want to give or take 5-10 minutes. I would check on them at the 30 minute mark and go from there.

  • Remove your giant chicken chip from the oven and allow it to cool for 5 minutes. If at this point it doesn't feel crispy enough you can toss it back in the oven for 5-10 more minutes.

  • Once the chip is nice and crisp, break it into smaller chips. I recommend serving it with guacamole or your favorite dip!

Notes

  • See post for air fryer instructions.
  • While this is technically a Keto chicken thigh recipe, chicken breast is also perfectly fine to use, and you can usually find it pre-ground so you can skip a step!
  • If you don’t have a meat grinder, you can either chop the meat with a sharp knife or use a food processor.
  • When rolling the chicken you want it thin enough that it becomes translucent when held up to the light.
  • If you want to make the chips a little easier to break up after they're done baking you can score them with your rubber spatula before removing the cling film and putting the tray in the oven.
  • When the chicken chips are done baking they will have shrunk significantly, and the edges will have begun to curl. The chips should be a warm, dark reddish-brown when they're done baking and should feel crisp to the touch after cooling.
  • I would suggest eating the chips the same day as they will get soggy if stored in the fridge and could become rancid if left out for too long.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 0g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 531mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g

Tried this Recipe? Please leave A Star Rating!Mention @HildasKitchenBlog or tag #HildasKitchenBlog!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Sandi says

    I was just thinking about whether it was possible to make something like this the other day, then Googled it and found your recipe. Thank you so much!

    Reply

    • Hilda Sterner says

      You're welcome!

      Reply

  2. Katy says

    Mine has been in the oven for an HR now and is still not firm. I rolled it out as thin as I could.

    Reply

    • Hilda Sterner says

      Hi Katy,
      Did you make any changes? Did you use chicken thighs or breast? Have the edges begun to curl and does it look dark as in my photos? The texture gets crispier as it cools so you can try taking it out and see if it's crisp and if not, put it back in to cook some more.

      Reply

  3. Laura says

    This tasted amazing! My husband kept grilling me about what was it it because the chips "tasted too good!" The only problem I had is that about half of it stuck like glue to the wax paper. I am thinking that this may be because I used ground chicken breast and the lack of fat was the issue. Next time I will grease the paper a bit.

    Reply

    • Hilda Sterner says

      Thanks, Laura, that's a great tip! I'm glad you guys enjoyed them!

      Reply

    • Laurie says

      Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (23)
      I used turkey breast and no sticking...though the flavor was very dull and the chip, though crunchy, was too dry. I think it needs the fat. Also, the popular Wilde brand adds egg whites and bone broth to their ingredients. I wonder how to incorporate those so you get a lighter crisp?

      Also, don't use wax paper! Parchment is what you want. Big difference. 😉

      Reply

      • Hilda Sterner says

        Thanks Laurie, Thanks for the feedback. About the other ingredients, I would recommend experimenting adding to the ground mixture and seeing how it turns out. I can see the eggs helping, but I would expect the bone broth would make the mixture too wet and take a while to cook out. If you try it, let us know how it goes. And yes, no wax paper!

  4. CJ says

    OH MY GOSH..... your step by step photo's are heaven.. you are SO thoughtful and kind to do this and I will always look for YOUR recipes going forward... so grateful for you am I. MUCH APPRECIATED..... looking for more now.

    Reply

    • Hilda Sterner says

      I'm glad you find the pics helpful, CJ! You'd be surprised how many people skip over them and head straight to the recipe card then send me questions that could be easily explained in the photos! 🤷🏻‍♀️

      Reply

  5. Hungry4Hucks says

    Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (24)
    Okay! These are crazy! We made them for some guests with guacamole dip and they're a smash! We're going to try it next with the Green Goddess salad. Fabulous!!!

    Reply

    • Nena Sterner says

      Ooo that's a good idea! I'll have to try those two together next time!

      Thanks!

      Reply

Chicken Chips: A Keto Chicken Thigh Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are chicken thighs or breasts better for Keto? ›

Chicken thighs (with the skin on) are perfect for when you're on the ketogenic diet. The meat is a little richer and fattier than breast meat, plus keeping the skin on ups the fat count.

What ingredient makes chicken skin crispy? ›

That trick is a sprinkling of baking powder, and it'll get you the crispiest, crackliest bites of fatty, salty skin imaginable, whether you're cooking just one thigh, a plate of wings, or an entire bird.

What are chicken chips made of? ›

Chicken chips are made of chicken that has been ground and flattened into a thin layer, along with various spices including sea salt, black or white pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and chipotle powder.

Can I have fried chicken on keto? ›

Fried chicken can be part of a healthy keto diet as long as you prepare it right, substituting high-carb ingredients with healthy fat and low-carb alternatives. These primarily include breading and cooking oil. As much as possible, avoid consuming take-out fried chicken unless you remove the breading before eating it.

How many chicken thighs can I eat on keto? ›

As a rule of thumb for a main course, plan on about 3/4 to one pound of bone-in chicken thighs per person or 1/2 pound of boneless chicken thighs per person. If you need a way to fit more fat into your day, opt for skin-on, bone-in thighs instead of boneless and skinless.

Are chicken thighs good for weight loss? ›

Unfortunately for weight loss efforts, chicken thighs have more calories and more fat. In a 3 ounce serving, skinless chicken breast has 140 calories and 3 grams of fat. A three ounce portion of chicken thigh has 170 calories and 3 grams of fat.

Is oil or butter better for crispy chicken skin? ›

Ideally, pan-fried chicken will come off the heat tender and juicy on the inside, and golden and crispy on the outside -- but the perfect crunchy skin won't happen in just any cooking fat. If you want a tasty flavor, go with butter, but if you want your ideal texture, opt for a cooking oil instead.

Does cornstarch or baking powder make chicken crispy? ›

When mixed with the flour, the cornstarch makes the flour coating crispier and gives it that golden brown color! (It has to do with prevention of gluten development.) The baking powder reacts with the oil and creates tiny air bubbles, which also helps form a crispy coating.

What is the trick to getting crispy chicken? ›

Fry it twice.

Try Fontana's method for “blanching” fried chicken: Heat oil to 250 degrees and cook chicken breasts for about five minutes, or bone-in chicken for about 12 minutes. Let them rest for 15 to 20 minutes, then fry again, two to three minutes for breasts or five minutes for bone-in.

Are chicken chips unhealthy? ›

Bottom Line: As a registered dietitian the one recommendation I have is to consume chicken chips like any food — in moderation. They do contain a fair amount of saturated fat, and consuming high amounts of saturated fat has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease.

What is chicken chips? ›

Our Nashville Hot Chicken is made from 100% all natural Chicken Breast but have the same thin & crispy texture of a potato chip. Add in the bold southern heat of Nashville & a subtle tang, and these chips are the perfect high-protein, low-carb, guilt-free snack.

What's a chicken chip? ›

Australian chicken meat chopped and shaped into chips then coated in a crispy tempura style batter. There are plenty of reasons to love Ingham's Always Good 100% Aussie Chicken. It tastes amazing! It's also raised with no added hormones. It remains true to our promise of sharing food that's always good!

How many fried eggs can I eat on keto? ›

We'll also share some great low-carb egg-based keto recipes. Eggs are keto-friendly and safe to eat when you're on the ketogenic diet. Eggs are low in carbs while containing high amounts of protein and healthy fats. You can have 6 to 7 eggs every day while on the keto diet.

How many chicken can I eat on keto? ›

"With a keto diet, the breakdown is approximately 75 percent fat, 20 percent protein and 5 percent carbohydrates." For example, a woman who weighs 150 pounds and is moderately active is recommended to eat 25 grams of carbs (think one medium sized apple!), 86 grams of protein (a little over three 3 oz chicken breasts) ...

Can you eat a lot of chicken on keto? ›

Meat and poultry are considered staple foods on the keto diet. Fresh meat and poultry contain no carbs and are rich in B vitamins and several important minerals. They're also a great source of high quality protein, which may help preserve muscle mass during a very low carb diet ( 18 , 19 , 20).

Which chicken is good for keto? ›

For meat lovers, the best news is → both white meat and dark meat are perfectly fine to eat when following a keto diet. However, note that the best type of chicken to use is definitely chicken breast as it is the leanest cut.

Can I eat chicken thighs instead of breasts for weight loss? ›

Skinless chicken breast is much lower in fats and calories than thighs. Breasts have about 30 calories per ounce. Thighs have about 50. For the same amount of calories, you can have a larger serving and also more protein, from breasts.

Are chicken thighs better than chicken breast? ›

Chicken breasts definitely differ from chicken thighs as far as nutrition: three ounces of skinless chicken breast meat contains approximately 140 calories and a gram of saturated fat, while three ounces of skinless chicken thigh meat is roughly 30 more calories and two more grams of saturated fat.

Are chicken thighs high in carbs? ›

One skinless, boneless, cooked chicken thigh (116 g) contains : Calories: 208. Protein: 28.8 g. Carbs: 0 g.

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